Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 4
Eversincethemessageofsummonshadcomeforhimfromthedirectorhismindhadstruggledtofindthemeaningofthemessage;and,duringthelongrestlesstimehehadsatinthecollegeparlourwaitingforthedirectortocomein,hiseyeshadwanderedfromonesoberpicturetoanotheraroundthewallsandhismindwanderedfromoneguesstoanotheruntilthemeaningofthesummonshadalmostbecomeclear.Then,justashewaswishingthatsomeunforeseencausemightpreventthedirectorfromcoming,hehadheardthehandleofthedoorturningandtheswishofasoutane.
ThedirectorhadbeguntospeakofthedominicanandfranciscanordersandofthefriendshipbetweensaintThomasandsaintBonaventure.Thecapuchindress,hethought,wasrathertoo
Stephen’sfacegavebackthepriest’sindulgentsmileand,notbeinganxioustogiveanopinion,hemadeaslightdubitativemovementwithhislips.
—Ibelieve,continuedthedirector,thatthereissometalknowamongthecapuchinsthemselvesofdoingawaywithitandfollowingtheexampleoftheotherfranciscans.
—Isupposetheywouldretainitinthecloisters?saidStephen.
—Ocertainly,saidthedirector.ForthecloisteritisallrightbutforthestreetIreallythinkitwouldbebettertodoawaywithit,don’tyou?
—Itmustbetroublesome,Iimagine.
—Ofcourseitis,ofcourse.
